Apparatus for cooking meats

ABSTRACT

A disposable liner for use with a rigid plastic coated cooking tray. The disposable liner comprises a preformed flexible member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined thickness. The preformed flexible member conforms to a predetermined configuration of such plastic cooking tray. The preformed flexible member covers at least an upper surface of such plastic cooking tray for collecting grease from bacon and other fatty foods being cooked on such plastic cooking tray.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/628,972 filed Nov. 18, 2004.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a flexible tray forcooking bacon and other fatty meats and, more particularly, the presentinvention relates to a tray for cooking bacon and other meats in amicrowave wherein the grease is collected in a disposable portion of thetray and then discarded and, still more specifically, the presentinvention in one aspect thereof relates to stackable flexible trays forcooking meat products in a microwave.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cooking of bacon and other fatty meats which produce significantquantities of grease during the cooking process has always created aproblem. These foods can be cooked in a broiler, in a skillet on thestove top or in a microwave. Regardless of the mode of cooking, theresulting grease presents a problem. There is always a messy clean upwhenever these foods are cooked.

Some prior art solutions to the problem involve the use of absorbentmaterials upon which the bacon, sausage or other meat products areplaced during the cooking process. The grease is then absorbed in theabsorbent medium. Most of these processes are devoted to a broilingprocess rather than skillet frying or cooking the meat in a microwave.Other modes of cooking bacon or other fatty meats besides broilinginclude frying in a skillet and cooking in a microwave oven. Regardlessof the mode of cooking all methods produce some volume of grease thatmust be disposed of after cooking along with the mess that accompaniescooking these foods. Frying in a skillet is the traditional method ofcooking bacon where the bacon cooks in its own grease. This mode leaveslittle means for removing the grease other than pouring it off atcertain intervals.

In the cooking of bacon or sausage in a microwave paper towels or otherabsorbent pads have been used to absorb the grease during cooking butthis process is still not totally satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention provides a disposable cooking trayand/or liner for use with a rigid cooking tray. The disposable linerpreferably comprises a preformed flexible member having a predeterminedshape and a predetermined thickness. The preformed flexible memberconforms to a predetermined configuration of such cooking tray. Thepreformed flexible member covers at least an upper surface of suchcooking tray for collecting grease from bacon and other fatty foodsbeing cooked on such cooking tray.

Another embodiment of the invention provides in combination with a rigidplastic cooking tray having a predetermined configuration, a disposableliner for covering at least an upper surface of the plastic cooking trayand for collecting grease from bacon and other fatty foods being cookedon the plastic cooking tray. The disposable liner comprises a preformedflexible member having a predetermined shape and a predeterminedthickness. The preformed flexible member conforms to the predeterminedconfiguration of the rigid cooking tray.

Yet another embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus forcooking meats. The apparatus comprises) an outer tray like member forcollecting grease therein and an an inner shelf like member having apredetermined number of ridges for supporting meat to be cooked. Thereis a lid sealed to one of the outer tray and the inner shelf and apredetermined number of vent holes formed in the apparatus for allowingsteam to escape.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a disposable liner for a cooking tray so as to make clean upeasy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable linerfor a cooking tray that conforms to the shape and configuration of thecooking tray.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposableliner for a cooking tray wherein grease from cooking fatty foods iscollected in the disposable liner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a disposableliner for a cooking tray wherein grease from cooking fatty foods iscollected in an absorbent material disposed in the disposable liner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable linerwhich can be made of paper or plastic.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a paper linerwhich is plastic coated.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent after a full reading of the following detaileddescription, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attacheddrawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rectangular plastic cooking tray.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the plastic cooking tray shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a disposable liner that fits a plastic cookingtray shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the disposable liner shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cover for the disposable liner and theplastic cooking tray shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the cover shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a circular plastic cooking tray.

FIG. 8 is a cross section view of the plastic cooking tray shown in FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a disposable liner that fits a plastic cookingtray shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross section view of the disposable liner shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is plan view of the plastic cooking tray shown in FIG. 7 and thedisposable liner shown in FIG. 9 together.

FIG. 12 is a cross section view of plastic cooking tray together withthe disposable liner shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a cover for the disposable liner and theplastic cooking tray shown in FIGS. 7 and-9.

FIG. 14 is a cross section view of the cover shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cross section view of the disposable liner shown in FIG. 3showing an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIGS. 16-17.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shownin FIGS. 16-18.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an inner liner of the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGS. 16-19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the lid for the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGS. 16-20.

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines XXII-XXII of theembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shownin FIG. 16.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTSOF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the presentinvention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identicalcomponents which have identical functions have been designated byidentical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated inthe drawings.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is an apparatus, generally designated 10, whichincludes a plastic cooking tray 2 having a substantially rectangularshape and a disposable liner 4 for such plastic cooking tray. Suchdisposable liner 4 conforms to the shape of the plastic cooking tray 2.The cooking tray 2 has a well 6 at one end to collect grease fromcooking of fatty foods such as bacon. The disposable plastic liner 4also has a well portion 8 that conforms to the well portion 6 of theplastic tray 2. Thus, any grease generated from the cooking of fattyfoods will collect in the well portion 8 of the disposable liner. In anembodiment of the invention such well portion 8 includes an absorbentmaterial 12 for collecting the grease. After cooking with the grease allcontained in the disposable liner 4, the liner 4 is just thrown awayleaving the cooking tray free of grease. Illustrated in FIGS. 5 an 6 isan alternate embodiment of the invention in which is provided a lid 14to cover the plastic tray 2 with the disposable liner 4 therein.

Such disposable flexible liner 4 is made of either plastic or paper. Theplastic for such liner is selected from a group that consists ofpolyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate,polymethylpentene, polyeterimide, polysulphone and stearic maleicanhydride copolymer. Presently it is preferred that such plastic isselected from polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate orpolymethylpentene, both from their availability and their use with amicrowave. When the disposable flexible liner 4 is made of paper it ispresently preferred that such paper is coated (laminated) with plasticmaking it impervious to passage of fluid therethrough.

Illustrated in FIGS. 7-12 is an alternate embodiment of the inventionwherein the shape of the plastic cooking tray 22 is substantiallycircular. The invention is basically the same as that discussedpreviously. The only essential difference is the shape of the tray 22and, therefore, the shape of the preformed flexible liner 24. The wellportion 26 of the circular tray 22 is disposed along the outercircumferential edge of the tray and thus the disposable liner 24 has asimilar well portion 28.

The present invention provides that the bacon grease because of thesloped characteristics of the bacon racks will flow to the grease wells6, 26 provided on the racks 2,22. All of the grease is retained in thegrease wells 8, 28 provided in the preformed flexible member 4, 24. Whenthe cooking is completed the entire preformed, flexible member 4,24 isdiscarded with the grease therein. As stated previously in an alternateembodiment of the invention some absorbent material 8 is placed in thewell portion to absorb the grease and, thus, make disposal easier.Further the upturned edges (sides) of the preformed, flexible memberkeep the grease from flowing over the edges and getting on thesupporting bacon rack. Thus, the bacon rack 12, 22 remains clean andfree from any bacon grease or the marks that are made from the baconbeing cooked.

Illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 is a composite of the plastic cookingtray 22 with the disposable, flexible liner 24 disposed therein. WhileFIGS. 13 and 14 show the cover 32 for the cooking tray 22 with thedisposable flexible liner 24 disposed therein. FIG. 15 shows thedisposable flexible liner 4 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the absorbentmaterial 8 disposed in the well

Refer now to FIGS. 16-23 wherein there is illustrated one otherembodiment of the invention. The apparatus, generally designated 50, ofthis embodiment includes an outer tray 42 an inner tray 44 and asealable lid 46. Vent holes are provided in the lid 46 and outer tray 42to allow steam to escape.

While both the presently preferred and a number of alternativeembodiments of the present invention have been described in detail aboveit should be understood that various other adaptations and modificationsof the present invention can be envisioned by those persons who areskilled in the relevant art of equipment for cooking meats withoutdeparting from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

1. A disposable liner member manufactured from a preselected material for use with a rigid plastic cooking tray, said disposable liner comprising a preformed flexible member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined thickness, said preformed flexible member substantially conforming to a predetermined configuration of such plastic cooking tray, said preformed flexible member covering at least an upper surface of such plastic cooking tray for collecting grease from bacon and other fatty foods being cooked on such plastic cooking tray.
 2. The disposable liner, according to claim 1, wherein said preselected material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and paper.
 3. The disposable liner, according to claim 2, wherein said plastic is selected from group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polymethylpentene, polyeterimide, polysulphone and stearic maleic anhydride copolymer.
 4. The disposable liner, according to claim 2, wherein said paper is coated with plastic making it impervious to passage of fluid therethrough.
 5. The disposable liner, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member is generally rectangular to fit a generally rectangular plastic cooking tray.
 6. The disposable liner, according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes upturned edges around a periphery of such preformed flexible member in order to keep grease generated from cooking bacon and other fatty meats inside said preformed flexible member.
 7. The disposable liner, according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes a well portion closely adjacent one end corresponding to a well portion of such generally rectangular plastic cooking tray for collecting grease generated from cooking bacon and other fatty meats.
 8. The disposable liner, according to claim 7, wherein said well portion of said preformed flexible member further includes an absorbent material for absorbing any grease that results from cooking of fatty meats.
 9. The disposable liner, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member is round to fit a generally round plastic cooking tray.
 10. The disposable liner, according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes upturned edges around an outer periphery of said preformed flexible member in order to keep grease generated from cooking bacon and other fatty meats inside said preformed flexible plastic member.
 11. The disposable liner, according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes a well portion closely adjacent an outer periphery of said preformed flexible member to correspond to a well portion of such generally round plastic cooking tray.
 12. The disposable liner, according to claim 11, wherein said well portion of said preformed flexible member further includes an absorbent material for absorbing any grease that results from cooking of fatty meats.
 13. In combination with a rigid plastic cooking tray having a predetermined configuration, a disposable liner for covering at least an upper surface of said plastic cooking tray and for collecting grease from bacon and other fatty foods being cooked on said plastic cooking tray, said disposable liner comprising a preformed flexible member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined thickness, said preformed flexible member conforming to said predetermined configuration of said rigid plastic cooking tray.
 14. The combination, according to claim 13, wherein said preselected material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and paper.
 15. The combination, according to claim 14, wherein said plastic is selected from group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polymethylpentene, polyeterimide, polysulphone and stearic maleic anhydride copolymer.
 16. The combination, according to claim 14, wherein said paper is coated with plastic making it impervious to passage of fluid therethrough.
 17. The combination, according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member is generally rectangular to fit into a rectangular rigid plastic cooking tray.
 18. The combination, according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes upturned edges around-the periphery of said preformed flexible plastic member in order to keep grease generated from cooking bacon and other fatty meats inside said preformed flexible member.
 19. The combination, according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes a well portion closely adjacent one end corresponding to a well portion of said generally rectangular rigid plastic cooking tray for collecting grease generating from cooking bacon and other fatty meats.
 20. The combination, according to claim 19, wherein said well portion of said preformed flexible member further includes an absorbent material to absorb any grease that results from cooking of fatty meats.
 21. The combination, according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible plastic member is round to fit a generally round rigid plastic cooking tray.
 22. The combination, according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes upturned edges around the outer periphery of said preformed flexible plastic member in order to keep grease generated from cooking bacon and other fatty meats inside said preformed flexible plastic member.
 23. The combination, according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined shape of said preformed flexible member further includes a well portion closely adjacent an outer periphery of said preformed flexible plastic member to correspond to a well portion of a generally round rigid plastic cooking tray.
 24. The combination, according to claim 23, wherein said well portion of said preformed flexible member further includes an absorbent material to absorb any grease that results from cooking of fatty meats.
 25. An apparatus for cooking meats, said apparatus comprising: (a) an outer tray like member for collecting grease therein; (b) an inner shelf like member having a predetermined number of ridges for supporting meat to be cooked; (c) a lid sealed to one of said outer tray and said inner shelf; and (d) a predetermined number of vent holes formed in said apparatus for allowing steam to escape. 